Pages

April 20, 2017

Suspect Arrested For Lewd Acts With A Minor - Ongoing SCPD Investigation To Determine If There Are Additional Victims

Santa Cruz Police Detectives investigating a criminal complaint of statutory rape of a 14-year-old female led to the arrest of Shawn Michael Cox, 20 years old, Santa Cruz resident.

Shawn Cox, 20 years old, from Santa Cruz

SCPD would like to connect with anyone who may have received messages from Shawn Cox on social media.

Mr. Cox met the female juvenile via a social media site. Both Mr. Cox and the 14-year-old had a consensual sexual relationship over the two-week period. The juvenile was found out by a relative. The 14-year old and her family came forward to law enforcement about the relationship. Mr. Cox knew that the female juvenile was only in middle school when the relationship began.

On April 6th, Detectives used a ruse to set up a meeting with Mr. Cox. When Mr. Cox arrived at the designated meeting location, SCPD arrested him for several felony crimes. Due to the age of the juvenile victims and online pseudonyms, detectives required the time to follow up, identify and contact parents of potential juvenile victims in the investigation.

While Mr. Cox is in jail, Detectives continue to conduct extensive interviews and collect evidence that indicates he attempted multiple times to establish relationships with juveniles. Santa Cruz Police did locate one additional female juvenile victim. We believe there are more.

Mr. Cox was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on sexual intercourse with a minor, oral copulation with a minor, and digital penetration with a minor, sodomy.